Inside Story - No ceasefire until Shalit is freed? Feb 19, 2009, Part 1

The release of one Israeli soldier will decide the fate of a long term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.




The deal, brokered by Egypt, was expected to be signed this week. But on Wednesday, Israel's security cabinet decided that there will be no truce in Gaza until Corporal Gilad Shalit is freed.

In exchange of Shalit, Hamas wants the freedom of several hundred Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.

Till Wednesday, the truce and the prisoner swap were being negotiated independently. Amos Gilad, the Israeli negotiator with Cairo has lashed out on prime minister Olmert for linking the release of Shalit to the truce deal.

Egyptian mediators have said they are angry that Israel changed its stance just as an agreement was about to be approved.

How can the latest move by the Israeli cabinet be interpreted? Does the sudden shift in the Israeli position risk causing tension with Cairo? Is the current government hoping to roll the whole issue to the next government? Would Netanyahu be better equipped to deal with the issue?

And why has Shalit's release become a headline while 11 thousand Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails are hardly mentioned anywhere? Are they worth less?

Inside Story presenter Imran Garda is joind by Khaleda Jarar, director of Addameer, a prisoners' support and human rights association; Ghassan Al-Khatib, a political analyst, and vice-president of Bir Zeit university; and Efraim Inbar, a politics professor at Bar-Ilan university and the director of Begin-Sadat centre for strategic studies (BESA).

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[jrswhite7751]

Israel is clearly pimping their lapdogs- the Egyptians! They have been in negotiations for a while now and promised the Egyptians a quick settlement and refused to allow them to save face. They carried water for the Zionazis during the assault on Gaza and still they got stiffed. The Zionists cannot be trusted, besides , why release him for a cease fire that Israel will violate anyway?

[yekal]

Nobody knows, I hope he`s goming home soon! We need all prayers, even yours! =)

[daskumarraj1]

ISRAEL is a terrorist state and is the main cause of terrorism. It uses the word terrorism repeatedly to justify the worst oppression in history. Unfortunately most western governments are puppets for Nazi germany like state, but most enlightened Israelis and majority of people are against this pariah state. this can continue its terrorism will destroy itself like hitler stalin.

[Az12345540]

Dear ISREAL THEIR ARE STILL DAUGHTERS AND SONS OF SS GAURDS LIVIING IN SOUTH AFRICA AND OTHER PLACES WHO SHOULD BE ARRESTED FOR THEIR WAR CRIMES . I FOR 1 KNOW OF A LADY FROM SOUTH AFRICA WHO IS 100 percent A DAUGTHER OF A NEO NAZI or is a decendant of a war crimnal from germany SHE IS OF GERMAN DECSENT I WORKED WITH HER IN ABU DHABI AT A SCHOOL CALLED CHIOUEFAT HER NAME IS LOIUS BRIGETTE LUBBE . SHE MUST BE TRIED FOR HER RACISTNess.

[abdomialno]

you need my ass!!! you idiot,,, i hope he will remain there until he feels how it is to be under siege... you mad dogs, you have no mercy what so ever

[Barnesy10]

you fucking idiot!!. Hamas may talk of eradicating Israel,but Israel is eradicating Palestine as we speak!!! Israel evacuated Gaza because they were getting ready to bomb it back to the stone age,which they did this year!!

Israel continues to build settlements,while speaking of peace??

Israel only understands force,so the Palestinians must fight them to the end

[jon2xu]

Shalit is being held in Gaza?

[TruthAndDiscovery]

Freedom fighters? That is such a twisted lie, like much of the 'Palestinian cause', they are terrorists. Israel should in no way release them if they have any sense, they will just strike with violence as she stated. If released, they will strike violently and they would have no hesitations of aiming there fire at civilians just as southern Israel has suffered on almost a daily basis now FOR EIGHT YEARS!

[Uknowme8same]

umm I would agree with that.............

[automncloud]

Israel is a terrorists regime, they just hate peace !

whenever Israel terrorists are near making a deal they try to break it and lunch a war to kill more children !

[stylian65]

And you think in December Israel tought them how to be clever? I hope for you that you never live the day when they revenge for what they suffer.